PASSINGS: Paul Alter

Paul Alter, 89, a veteran TV game-show director and producer who won a 1993 lawsuit against the Walt Disney Co. over similarities between a story outline he wrote and the film "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," died of natural causes Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 89.

From the early 1950s through 2000, Alter directed TV game shows, including "Family Feud," "I've Got a Secret," "The Price Is Right," "To Tell the Truth" and "What's My Line?" He won Daytime Emmy Awards for directing in 1982 for "Family Feud" and in 1996 for "The Price Is Right."

He also was a producer for "Tattletales" and "Beat the Clock."

Alter sued Disney in 1992, claiming a story outline he wrote and submitted to the studio was used without credit in the making of "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," a sequel to the 1989 comedy "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."

Alter's suit enumerated 17 areas of similarity between his 12-page outline written in the late 1970s, which had been rejected by Disney, and the movie released in 1992. Disney countered that other writers came up with the idea for the film.

A jury sided with Alter and awarded him $300,000 in November 1993, and Disney agreed to a settlement in January 1994.

The Chicago native served as an aerial photographer for the Army during World War II, his family said.